Difference between revisions of "Kusinārā"
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[File:Kusinara.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:Kusinara.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
| − | [[Kusinārā]] was the main town of a tribe of [[people]] called the Mallas and the scene of the [[Buddha’s]] [[death]] and [[funeral]]. That it was a small place is clear from [[Ānanda]]’s description of it as ‘a wattle-and-daub town, a jungle town, a town in the woods’ (D.II,145). The [[Buddha’s]] final journey took him from [[Vesāli]] to [[Kusinārā]], a distance of about 190 kilometres. He left [[Vesāli]] after the rainy season (mid-October) and arrived in [[Kusinārā]] three months later (D.II,114) which means that he would have walked an average of 2 kilometres each day. As he stopped in several places along the way, although for how long we do not [[know]], he probably actually walked more than that each day. Either way, such a trip would have been tiring given the [[Buddha’s]] age, the state of his health and the weather. | + | [[Kusinārā]] was the main town of a tribe of [[people]] called the {{Wiki|Mallas}} and the scene of the [[Buddha’s]] [[death]] and [[funeral]]. That it was a small place is clear from [[Ānanda]]’s description of it as ‘a wattle-and-daub town, a jungle town, a town in the woods’ (D.II,145). The [[Buddha’s]] final journey took him from [[Vesāli]] to [[Kusinārā]], a distance of about 190 kilometres. He left [[Vesāli]] after the [[rainy season]] (mid-October) and arrived in [[Kusinārā]] three months later (D.II,114) which means that he would have walked an average of 2 kilometres each day. As he stopped in several places along the way, although for how long we do not [[know]], he probably actually walked more than that each day. Either way, such a trip would have been tiring given the [[Buddha’s]] age, the state of his health and the weather. |
| − | When the [[Buddha]] arrived on the outskirts of [[Kusinārā]] he lay down between two [[sal]] [[trees]] and gave his final instructions to his [[disciples]]. We are told that he passed away during the third watch of the night ([[rattiyā pacchime yāme]], D.II,147). In {{Wiki|ancient India}} the night was divided into three watches ([[paṭhama]], [[majjhima]] and [[pacchima]]) – starting at sunset, finishing at sunrise and each [[being]] of equal length. This would mean that the [[Buddha]] passed away sometime between about 3 A.M. and sunrise. | + | When the [[Buddha]] arrived on the outskirts of [[Kusinārā]] he lay down between two [[sal]] [[trees]] and gave his final instructions to his [[disciples]]. We are told that he passed away during the third watch of the night ([[rattiyā pacchime yāme]], D.II,147). In {{Wiki|ancient India}} the night was divided into three watches ([[paṭhama]], [[majjhima]] and [[pacchima]]) – starting at sunset, finishing at sunrise and each [[being]] of {{Wiki|equal}} length. This would mean that the [[Buddha]] passed away sometime between about 3 A.M. and sunrise. |
For centuries [[Kusinārā]] was a centre of [[pilgrimage]] and there were two [[stūpas]] there, one marking the place where the [[Buddha]] passed away and another marking where the [[cremation]] of his [[body]] had taken place. There were several [[temples]] and [[monasteries]] there as well. After [[Buddhism]] [[died]] out in [[India]], [[Kusinārā]] was overgrown with jungle and was only rediscovered in 1861. Excavations in the 20th century revealed numerous ruins including the two [[stūpas]]. See [[Doṇa]], Meal and [[Vesākha]]. | For centuries [[Kusinārā]] was a centre of [[pilgrimage]] and there were two [[stūpas]] there, one marking the place where the [[Buddha]] passed away and another marking where the [[cremation]] of his [[body]] had taken place. There were several [[temples]] and [[monasteries]] there as well. After [[Buddhism]] [[died]] out in [[India]], [[Kusinārā]] was overgrown with jungle and was only rediscovered in 1861. Excavations in the 20th century revealed numerous ruins including the two [[stūpas]]. See [[Doṇa]], Meal and [[Vesākha]]. | ||
Latest revision as of 21:00, 19 September 2013
Kusinārā was the main town of a tribe of people called the Mallas and the scene of the Buddha’s death and funeral. That it was a small place is clear from Ānanda’s description of it as ‘a wattle-and-daub town, a jungle town, a town in the woods’ (D.II,145). The Buddha’s final journey took him from Vesāli to Kusinārā, a distance of about 190 kilometres. He left Vesāli after the rainy season (mid-October) and arrived in Kusinārā three months later (D.II,114) which means that he would have walked an average of 2 kilometres each day. As he stopped in several places along the way, although for how long we do not know, he probably actually walked more than that each day. Either way, such a trip would have been tiring given the Buddha’s age, the state of his health and the weather. When the Buddha arrived on the outskirts of Kusinārā he lay down between two sal trees and gave his final instructions to his disciples. We are told that he passed away during the third watch of the night (rattiyā pacchime yāme, D.II,147). In ancient India the night was divided into three watches (paṭhama, majjhima and pacchima) – starting at sunset, finishing at sunrise and each being of equal length. This would mean that the Buddha passed away sometime between about 3 A.M. and sunrise. For centuries Kusinārā was a centre of pilgrimage and there were two stūpas there, one marking the place where the Buddha passed away and another marking where the cremation of his body had taken place. There were several temples and monasteries there as well. After Buddhism died out in India, Kusinārā was overgrown with jungle and was only rediscovered in 1861. Excavations in the 20th century revealed numerous ruins including the two stūpas. See Doṇa, Meal and Vesākha.
Kusinagara, D.R. Patil,1981.
